Church of Varen
Structure
The Clerics of Varen called themselves Tradelords, whiile some outside the faith called them Coinspinners. The god has a hands-on approach to his clergy. Varen often guided his priests via dreams and occasionally talked to them as the "voice that shines like gold." All clerics and priests of Varen were expected to pay a tithe equal to twenty-five percent of their income to the church. However, this excluded wages paid by the church to its priests. The hefty tithe was applicable to adventuring loot, investments, bounties, rewards, and businesses.
Unlike many other organized lawful religions, the Church of Varen's hierarchy was loose. A High Priest, the Holycoin, headed each temple. The lowest rank in the church were novices – Telchar, who could ascend the hierarchy ladder after confirmation. These titles included, in ascending order, Coin, Abreeant, Counter, Trabbar, Investor, Halanthi, Lender, Syndo, Manycoins, Grand Trabbar, Spender, Grand Syndar, Overgold, and lastly, the Holycoin.
Culture
The main teaching of the Varenite faith stated that the merchants' trade was the road to prosperity. The church believed that civilization prospered through mercantilism and the affluence of all members of society. Through increased wealth came greater civilization and happiness, bringing closer the Golden Age – the goal of all Varenites. Worshipers and church members were strictly forbidden to destroy or damage trade goods. Their duty was not to restrict free trade and quench rumors or slander, harmful to any mercantile activities. Varenites were faith-bound to give money to beggars and businesses. This act served to spread the glory of Varen, promise prosperity to his followers, and place the free coin in everyone's hands.
Public Agenda
The clergy of Varen were tasked with traveling the world, staffing busy temples in merchant cities, or aiding traders, merchant firms as moneylenders, allowing the businesses to grow. They were also known to be covertly aiding fences selling stolen goods. The church's dogma directed Varenite clergy to invest in all businesses that had a reasonable chance of not failing, and businesses ran by worshipers of Varen or business owners who offered a hefty tithe to the church. On some occasions, Varenites were known to positively manipulate trade via unsavory activities such as rumor-mongering, buy-ups, hired border brigands, etc.
Worship me, and you shall know wealth. To guard your funds is to venerate Varen and to share them well seeds your future success. Call on me in trade, and I will be there. The bold find gold, the careful keep it—and the timid yield it up.
Type
Religious, Organised Religion
Demonym
Varenite
Notable Members
